Combined book cover and easel



Sept. 23, 1'941. J. BAUER COMBINED BOOK COVER AND EASEL Fi'led Deo. 18, 1939 Patented Sept. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE COMBINED BOOK COVER AND EASEL l Julius Bauer, Chicago, Ill. Application December 18, 1939, Serial No. 309,740 1o claims. (ci. 231-33) The present invention relates to improvements in combined book covers and easels.

An object of the present invention is to provide a combined book cover and easel which operates effectually as a book cover and also as a lap table or easel.

A further object is to provide a combined book cover and easel which when performing its functions as a book cover is neat and unobtrusive, and which may be readily set up as an easel or lap table. Y

A further object is to provide a device of the kind referred to which is cheap to manufacture, neat in appearance and effective rin operation.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure 1 but set up as an easel or lap table and containing a book;

Figure 3 is a view showing the combined book cover and lap table in its open position with a book mounted therein; and

Figure 4 is a view taken along the lines indicated by the arrows 4-4 in Figure 3.

The back wall of the combined book cover and easel illustrated in the drawing is indicated by the numeral II). Said back wall has swingingly connected therewith the side walls II-I I, and the base portion I2 is swingingly connected with the back wall I and the side walls II--II at the lower edge I4 of said side and back walls. The back wall I will ordinarily be of elongated contour, the side walls II-II being swingingly connected to said back wall along the long edges I3I3 thereof. The base portion I2 may conveniently take the form of a truncated cone having weakened lines I5-I5 conforming to the edges I3-I3 of the back wall II. As shown in Figure l, the base portion I2 may be folded up into enclosing relationship with the back wall I0 and side Walls II-II when said side walls II-II are in closed position relative to each other. When it is intended to use the device as an easel or lap table the bottom portion I2 will be flattened out and occupy an angular position relative to the back wall I0, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The numerals Iiii6 indicate flaps which may be Vsecured at the swinging edges of the side walls II-II and at the adjacent portions of the upper and lower edges of said swinging walls II-II. Said flaps IIS- I6 extend only part of the distance from the swinging edges of the walls II-II to the edges I3-I3 and serve to receive and retain the covers of a book. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention the upper portions of the flaps I-IS are secured to the side walls II--II by snap fasteners, whereby the book covers may be more conveniently disposed in proper position within the book cover and removed from the book cover'.

The numeral II indicates a strut having the hinged end portions Ila-Ila. Said end portions IIa-IIa may be hinged to the remainder of the strut by scoring or weakening of the material. Said end portions Ila- Ila are provided with the head portions of snap fasteners, the head portions at the upper extremity of the strut I'I being indicated by the numerals Iii-I8. The head portion I9 of a snap fastener is located in the lowei` extremity I'Ia of the strut I'I. The upper portion of the back wall Il) yis provided with a plurality of pairs of studs`20 for receiving the heads I8-I8. The inner side, that is-the upper side of the bottom portion I2 as viewed in Figure 2, is provided with the stud 2i for receiving the head I9 when the device is being used as an easel orl lap table, as shown in Figure 2. The under side of the bottom portion I2 is provided with the stud 22 for re-` ceiving the head I9 when the book cover is in folded position, as illustrated in Figure l.

The mode of operation of the above described embodiment of the present invention will be clear without detailed explanation. When the parts are in the position illustrated in Figure l, the heads I8-I8 of the snap fasteners will be located upon the lowermost pair of studs 2li- 2B and the head I9 of a snap fastener will be located upon the stud 22, thereby holding the bottom portion I2 in enclosing relationship with the back wall I0 and the side walls II-I I. A book may be located within the book cover. and will be effectually covered and protected. When it is desired to set up the device as a lap table or easel, the lower snap fastener head I9 will be released from its corresponding stud, and the side walls 11-11 will be separated, thereby swinging the bottom portion I2 down to approximately the position illustrated in lFigure 2. The lower swinging extremity IIa of the strut I1 will be swung intosuch position that the snap fastener head I9 may be snapped onto the stud 2I and the device will be effective as an easel o r lap table. By reason of the plurality of pairs 'of vstuds 231-20 the angularity of the position of the book with respect to the bottom portion l2 may be chosen as desired.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention chosen for illustration is only one of many that may be chosen. For example, the device may be made of a size such that it will conveniently accommodate magazines instead of books, and the flaps I6 may take various forms. For example, the bottom portion of each ap IB may extend to a position `more closely adjacent to the corresponding hinge I3, or the snap fasteners at the top of each of the flaps may be omitted, the upper portion of each iiap being stitched or otherwise permanently secured to the corresponding side Wall, or the upper portion of each of the naps may extend only a short distance away from the corresponding swinging edge of its side Wall l I. Moreover, it will bel preferred by many to secure the pages of a book or the like directly to the back wall I0, as for example by means of the familiar` ring binder for loose leaves; orV the leaves of the. book or the like may bepermanently united to the back wall I8 by any of the Well known book binding means. In the event that the-leaves are secured to the back wall either permanently or removably, the flaps |S1|6 may be dispensed with, if preferred.

Many other modifications of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art. It isvintended to cover all modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: Y

l. A combined book cover and easel embodying a structure having a back wall, side walls and a bottom portion, said bottom portion 1oeing hingedly carried by said back wall and side walls and being foldable to encompass said back wall and side walls or to occupy a substantially fiat position in angular relationship with said back wall, and a strut hingedly supported by said back wall, the swinging extremity of said strut having means for engaging said bottom portion alternatively upon the two sides thereof for releasably holding said back wall and said bottom portion alternatively in parallel relationship or in spaced angular relationship with each other.

2. A combined book cover and easel embodying a structure having a back wall, side walls and 'a bottom portion, said bottom portion being hingedly connected to said back wall 'and side walls and being foldable to encompass said back wall and -side walls or to occupy a substantially fiat position in angular relationship with said back wall, and a strut member swingabiy carried by said back wall and having an extremity adapted to swing toward and away from the bottom end of said back wall and being provided at said swinging extremity with readily releasable fastener means `for engaging said bottom portion to 'hold said bottom portion alternatively in encompassing relationship with said back wall and side walls or in angular relationship with said back wall.

'3. 'A combined easel and book cover comprisingV a back Wall and side walls hingedly connected together and a bottom portion hingedly connected to said back wall andside walls, said bottom portion being foldable around said back wall and side walls and being adapted to occupy a Hat 'position in angular relationship with said back wall, and a swingble strut member having one extremity thereof carried by saidvback wall, the other extremity thereof being adapted to swing toward and away from the bottom 'end of said rback Wall, said'bottom" portion being provided with fastener devices for cooperating with said swingable extremity for holding said bottom portion alternatively in encompassing relationship with said back wall and side Walls or in flat condition in angular relationship with said back Wall.

4. In a combined book cover and easel, a back wall, side walls hingedly connected thereto, a bottom portion hingedly connected to said back Wall and to said side walls, said bottom portion being swingable into vencompassing relationship with said back wall and 'said side walls, said bottom portion, on one side thereof, being provided with a snap fastener member adjacent to its swinging extremity and on the other side thereof being provided with a snap fastener member adjacent tovits connection with said back wall, and a swingable strut connected at one end to said back Wall at a region spaced from said back walls connection with said bottom portion, the swinging extremity of said strut being adapted to have fastening relationship alternatively with said two 'fastener members of said bottom portion whereby said strutmay alternatively hold said bottom' portion in encompassing relationship with said'back Wall and said side walls or hold said bottom Wall in flat condition in spaced angular relationship Awith said back wall.

`5. In a combined book cover and easel, a back Wal-1, side walls lhingedly connected thereto, a bottom portion hingedly `connected to said back wall and to said side walls, said bottom portion being swi-ngable into encompassing relationship withsaid back wall and said side wallssaid bottom'portion, on one side/thereof, being provided with a snap fastener member adjacent to its swinging extremity and on the other side thereof being provided with a snap-fastener member adjacent to its connection at one end with said back wall, a swingable'strut connected to said back wall at a region spaced from said back walls connection with said bottom portion, the swinging extremity of said strut being adapted to have fastening relationship alternatively with said two fastener members of said'bottom portion, and means for selectively positioning the non-swinging extremity of said strut at a plurality of regions along said back wall whereby to provide a choice of angularity between said bottom portion and said back wall.

6. A combined book cover and easel embodying a structure having a back wall, side walls andl a bottom portion, said bottom portion being hinged-ly carried by said back Wall and side walls and being foldable to 'encompass said back wall and side walls or to occupy a substantially hat positionin angular relationship with said back wall,`the inner sides of said side walls being providedwith means for holding the covers oi a book or the like, and a strut hingedly supported by saidback' Wall, the-swinging extremity of said strut having means for engaging said bottom portion alternatively upon the two sides thereof for releasably holding Asaid back wall and said bottom portion alternatively in parallel relationship or in spaced angular relationship with each other.

7. A `combined book cover and easel embodying a struturehaving a back wall, side Walls and a bottom` portion, said bottom portion being hingedly carried by said back Wall Yand side walls and being foldable to encompass said back wall and side walls or to occupy a substantially fiat position in angular relationship with said back Wall, the inner sides of said side walls being providedwith means'for'h'olding the covers of a book or the like, and a strut member hingedly carried by said back wall, the free end of said strut member being adapted to swing toward and away from the bottom end of said back wall and being provided at its swinging extremity with readily releasable fastener means for fastening alternatively to either side of said bottom portion to hold said bottom portion alternatively in encompassing relationship with said back wall and side walls or in angular relationship with said back wall.

8. A combined easel and book cover comprising a back wall and side walls hingedly connected together and a bottom portion hingedly connected to said back wall and side walls, said bottom portion being foldable around said back wall and side walls and being adapted to occupy a flat position in angular relationship with said back wall, and a swingable strut member hingedly carried by said back wall, the free end of said strut member being adapted to swing toward and away from the bottom end of said back wall, said strut, member having a swingable extremity, said bottom portion being provided with fastener devices on the two sides thereof for cooperating with said swingable extremity for holding said bottom portion alternatively in folding relationship with said back wall and side walls or in angular relationship with said back wall.

9. In a combined book cover and easel, a back wall, side walls hingedly connected thereto, a bottom portion hingedly connected to said back wall and to said side walls, said bottom portion being swingable into encompassing relationship with said back wall and said side Walls, said bottom portion, on one side thereof, being provided with a snap fastener member adjacent to its swinging extremity and on the other side thereof being provided with a snap fastener member adjacent to its connection with said back wall, and a swingable strut hingedly connected 1 to said back wall at a region spaced from said back walls connection with said bottom portion, the swinging extremity of said strut being adapted to have fastening relationship alternatively with said two fastener members of said bottom portion, the inner sides of said side walls being provided with means for holding the covers of a book or the like.

10. In a combined book cover and easel, a back wall, side Walls hingedly connected thereto, a bottom portion hingedly connected to said back wall and to said side Walls, said bottom portion being swingable into encompassing relationship With said back wall and said side walls, said bottom portion, on one side thereof, being provided with a snap fastener member adjacent to its swinging extremity and on the other side thereof being provided with a snap fastener member adjacent to its connection with said back wall, a swingable strut hingedly connected to said back wall at a region spaced from said back walls connection with said bottom portion, the swinging extremity of said strut being adapted to have fastening relationship alternatively with said two fastener members of said bottom portion, and means for selectively positioning the non-Swinging extremity of said strut at a plurality of regions along said back Wall whereby to provide a choice of angularity between said bottom portion and said back wall.

JULIUS BAUER.

CERTXFICATE 0F CORRECTION. Patent No. 2, 256,515. september 25, 19in.

.TULIUS BAUER.

'It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line Tl, claim 5, for "'SvvnghleW-read --swingable;.and second column, line 59, claim 5, strike out the words "at one end" and insert the sameafter "connected in line MO, same'claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record.l of the case in the'Patent Office.

signed and sealed this iithday of November, A. D. 19in.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commis sioner of? Patents. 

